Four people have been given sentences ranging from seven-and-a-half years to 20 months for their roles in a crack cocaine and heroin supply conspiracy which saw drugs trafficked from Bristol into Wiltshire towns.

Tumaini Matsimela, age 34, of Wilson Street, Bristol was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years imprisonment.

Melody Collins, aged 28, of High Street, Pewsey was sentenced to three-and-a-half years imprisonment.

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Franco Cosentino, 37, of Cranesbill Road, Melksham, was sentenced to 20 months imprisonment suspended for two years, 20 days rehabilitation, 200 hours unpaid work and six month drug dependency rehabilitation.

Jack Hedges, age 23, of Pockeridge Road, Corsham, was sentenced to 2 years imprisonment, suspended for 2 years, 30 days rehabilitation and forfeiture of £420.

The investigation by the Dedicated Crime Team began in November 2014 when officers stop checked Matsimela at Chippenham train station.

He fought with officers and threw a quantity of Class A drugs into a bush, with a further quantity being found inside his pockets. He was arrested and bailed whilst the investigation continued.

He was again stopped in Chippenham in May 2015 when he was suspected to have been selling drugs. No drugs were found on this occasion, however, a large quantity of cash was located along with a mobile phone which officers suspected contained evidence of his drug dealing.

Franco Cosentino, 37 (Image: Wiltshire Police)

The investigation continued and led to officers visiting the St Paul’s area of Bristol on 2 February 2016. A short time later they located Cosentino and Hedges sat waiting in Cosentino’s car.

Matsimela was sighted walking towards the vehicle and was detained a short distance away. He fought violently and threw a mobile phone and a quantity of Class A drugs.

Mobile phone evidence showed that these drugs were intended to be supplied to Cosentino and Hedges and also implicated Collins in controlling the enterprise for the purposes of supplying crack and heroin onto the streets of Wiltshire.

When officers searched Matsimela’s home address they located his brother Abiola inside with over £2,000 worth of cannabis and £1,100 in cash. He was sentenced at an earlier hearing for possession with intent to supply class B drugs.

Matsimela, Collins, Hedges and Cosentino were all charged with conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin between 26 December 2015 and 3 February 2016. They all pleaded guilty.

PC Luke Barnett, of the Dedicated Crime Team at Melksham, said “I am very happy with the sentences passed in this case.

Jack Hedges, age 23, of Pockeridge Road, Corsham, was sentenced to 2 years imprisonment, suspended for 2 years, 30 days rehabilitation and forfeiture of £420 (Image: Wiltshire Police)

“Matsimela had been active in Wiltshire for some time, supplying hard drugs onto the streets of our towns and was well versed in police tactics. It required a lengthy investigation to successfully convict him of these offences and I am pleased that we were able to also successfully convict other significant members of his supply network.

“County Lines drug networks, who supply drugs from large cities such as Bristol into Wiltshire, pose a significant risk to our communities and we are determined to bring the offenders to justice.”

If you suspect county lines drug activity in your community, please report it on 101, all information is treated with the utmost discretion.